the Auricula is by no means a proof of this 
doctrine, many of the striped and variegated 
flowers being much larger, and their plants 
full as vigorous and healthy, as the self co- 
loured or plain ones. I must therefore attri- 
bute their stripes rather to the sport ot Na- 
ture, — in which she does not in any degree 
either weaken or exhaust herself, — than to any 
other cause ; but let the cause of these stripes 
proceed from what it will, when their colours 
are bright and distinctly marked, they are not 
only very beautiful, but are likewise vei^ 
valuable. Before I give directions for the cul- 
ture and management of this plant, I must 
trespass on the reader’s patience, whilst I 
describe the general properties which the best 
judges attribute to a good Auricula. 
The Properties of a good Auricula, 
GREEN LEAVES. 
The green leaves, commonly called the 
grass, should be of a moderate size, and pro- 
portionable to the flower stalk, they should 
be rather bent and falling backwards 
straight ; when they are too large and 
